Tag Archives: convertible

This time around Gene's Live Chop stopped in Kansas City, MO World of Wheels. The host club for the show was the The Rodtiques of Kansas City and they found a 1940 Ford Convertible they wanted to chop. This is one of the more difficult chop jobs for the "average joe" but that didn't phase Gene.

Every year the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson collector car auction gets larger. This year they've announced it'll be the largest yet with some of the most rare, valuable, and interesting vehicles for sale. The 2013 auction also has the largest number of Shelby vehicles for auction at one time. That includes the rarest Shelby Mustang of all-"The Green Hornet". We can't wait to see what some of these vehicles go for and we'll be participating in the fantasy bidding just like you! We decided to take a sneak peak at the auction list and pick out our 10 favorite vehicles (in no particular order) being offered up this year. Which one is your favorite?

1.Clark Gables 1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING COUPE

Even these days Clark Gable is a name that most everyone has heard of, he is undoubtly one of the top American actors of all time. This rare 300SL Gullwing was purchased new by him in Hollywood for under a measly $8k. The car has lived a pampered life and was professionally restored in 1989. Other than a few modifications, some of which Clark himself had done, the car is as nice as it came off the showroom floor. Whoever buys this should definitely buy the Gone With The Wind soundtrack and cruise around doing their best movie star impression.

2.1929 ISOTTA FRASCHINI TIPO 8A SS CASTAGNA ROADSTER

This car is one of the most rare and sought after antique cars in the world. These cars were the most expensive Italian cars built and only owned by extremely high profile and wealthy people. This car is 1 of 2 known and is definitely in the nicest shape. Most recently the car was in the Harrah's collection (yes like the casino/hotels) and this is the first time it has been available to the public in close to thirty years. The new owner of this probably will never drive it, but I suggest that he learns Italian and imports a driver from Italy to complete the full effect.

3.1986 PORSCHE 959 PROTOTYPE

Normally auto manufacturers don't want their prototype vehicles to get into the hands of the public and often they're destroyed. In this case, a small number of preproduction prototypes for the Porsche 959 got out to the public. Most of these cars were destroyed after the release of the 959 or during testing. This car was an ABS and chassis test mule and faired pretty well over the years. It's one of the more highly-photographed prototype 959's on many high speed road course tests throughout the world. The car still wears its original, never-released lightweight wheels and tires. We think the new owner should get some period correct race wheels and sticky tires and take it to a few track days to let the old girl stretch her legs like she was built for!

4.1968 SHELBY EXP 500 "THE GREEN HORNET PROTOTYPE"

This car is the rarest of Shelby Mustangs known and it was a prototype twice. After Ford decided they didn't want to follow through with the GT/SC program, they sent this factory prototype to Shelby to use as the prototype for the EXP 500 Mustang. Again it only stayed a prototype and Carroll Shelby and crew's EXP 500 Mustang plans died with this car. For many years this car was thought to be destroyed like most prototypes, but was eventually found and restored. This is THE only Green Hornet Shelby Mustang in existence. We think the new owner should pamper this car and bring it out for special events.. as long as it doesn't stay hidden away and forgotten like it was for decades before!

5FATTY ARBUCKLE'S 1919 PIERCE-ARROW 66 A-4 TOURER

Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle was one the biggest comedians and actors of his time and the highest paid. He had the money to do and buy whatever he wanted. In 1919 he had this Pierce Arrow built. This car is one of those antique coach built cars that REALLY looks the money it demands. This car has been owned by many high profile owners and had a 100-point restoration during it's 90+ years. I think the new owner should be careful where and what he's driving on with those white tires!

6. THE ORIGINAL #1 BATMOBILE BY GEORGE BARRIS

Batman and the Batmobile have been a staple in the modern entertainment world. Every new version of Batman produces a new Batmobile. This legacy was started with George Barris when he built the first fully functional Batmobile for the 60's Batman TV series. This car started life as a Lincoln Futura concept car that George bought for $1 directly from Ford Motor Company. He later hand built the car for the Batman series. This car defines an era and is surely going to make Batman fans go wild. George Barris himself has never let the car go and it's up for auction for the first time EVER. I'd say this car will either complete the ultimate Batman collection or start a downward spiral of owning rare Batman collector items. Either way I'd be sure to buy a vintage Batman costume and sit in the car while watching old episodes of the show and yelling "Bam!", "Pow!", "Zap!".

7. 1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE L-88 OWENS/CORNING RACE CAR

Corvettes from this era aren't exactly the most desirable, but this one is very important to Corvette racing history. This car was almost unbeatable winning podium positions in the '69 12 Hours of Sebring and the '69 and '70 wins in the 24 Hours of Daytona. This car has been restored back to its look from its days of 24 hours of Daytona and will make any Corvette fan have wet palms. I think the new owner should at least take it out once in a while for a track day, maybe the new owner of the Porsche 959 Prototype will want to rent laguna-seca for the day?

8. RING BROTHERS "PRODUCER" CUSTOM 1965 MUSTANG COUPE

The Ring Brothers need no introduction to the custom car fans. They've been building some of the most insane masterpieces of classic muscle cars we've seen and we always enjoy checking out what they're debuting at SEMA each year. This '65 Mustang coupe was nicknamed "Producer" and was debuted at SEMA 2012. This car is as mean looking as it gets, mostly because of the four inches it's been widened and those big aggressive wheels. This car swept up at the Goodguys last year and it proves again why the Ring Brothers are one of the top car builders. The new owner definitely needs to take this out to some shows and at least a couple grudge race days to cream some of the Chevy and Mopar guys! Oh and maybe a show and shine or two..

9.1971 PLYMOUTH HEMI 'CUDA CONVERTIBLE

Mopar and muscle fans lust after this vehicle, it's really a unicorn and rarely ever does one show up for sale. This Plymouth Barracuda convertible is one of eleven built and it's in phenomenal condition. This car is a lot more rare when you start comparing it to the other Hemi 'Cuda convertibles. It was one of two cars built for Canadian export and the ONLY one that left the factory with the "Plum Crazy" color. If you're a muscle car collector bidding on this you'd probably have a tough time picking between this and the Green Hornet! The new owner needs to take it out with the top down on some cool summer night drives with their loved one in the passenger seat!

10.CR1S 1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM ROADSTER

If Chevrolet had their heads in the same place classic custom cars guys did, they'd build something like this. This '62 Corvette has been converted into a custom roadster that looks incredible, but has race car performance. This car truly pushes the custom car world and won the 2009 SEMA/GM Best Hot Rod award. This car has so many details and one off modifications it's hard to take them all in. The new owner should definitely find the buyers of the Ring Brothers Mustangs and challenge them to a track day, that'd be interesting to say the least!

Whatever you're into, there will be something crossing the auction blocks for you. Tune into the SPEED channel today (Wednesday January 16) through Sunday (January 20) for live coverage and get in on some fantasy bidding!

"My dad is 72 years old. He has a 1946 Ford Convertible that he has had since his twenties. It is in pieces. I have always dreamed of having a street rod and auto body shop. Dad has always supported me in everything, including getting my business off the groung. Five years ago I purchased a building and made a go of it. Dad is there to help every day not expecting anything in return. We have survived a tough economy where I work very long hours just to see that my employees and all of the bills get paid, and Dad is right there supporting me all the way. He has sacrificed being able to put his car on the road to see that I achieve my dream. It is hard to see him grow older each year and not have his car together. My dad lives his life for others. For as long as I can remember, he had dressed up as Santa and gone to hoses of Family, Friends, and complete strangers on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with candy canes he buys himself, just to bring joy to others. He is so selfless and deserves to have that car driveable while he can still enjoy it. $2,500 in Eastwood credit would go a long ways in getting some of the products and materials needed to get his project going. Please help me in saying thank you to my dad, Dana Gabbard, a great man who deserves it. Thanks Marc Gabbard Yakima, WA"

“I’ve been involved in auto restoration for almost 50 years. I owned my own collision shop for 18 years. I sold it and began teaching at Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro, New Jersey. I teach automotive engineering design, custom painting, airbrush, 3-D computer design, mechanical drawing, and more. I encourage kids into the auto repair industry.

All from scratch

About 18 years ago, I purchased a 1940 Ford convertible that required a lot of work. I started by buying a Fatman Fab frame and customizing it. I then rebuilt a 1973, 350 engine.

Over 17 years, piece by piece by piece, I did it all by hand. It had air ride suspension; electric windows; Corvette fuel injectors; a 700R4 transmission, with the rear cut down to make it all fit. The only things I couldn’t make from scratch were the axles.

99.9% done when lightning struck

Three years ago, everything was 99.9% done. It was sitting on my lift in my garage when lighting struck and burned everything up.

The most frustrating part was the insurance company refused to pay for anything in my garage that was automotive. I learned I had to have separate coverage on anything not covered by my homeowner insurance. ‘The big print giveth and the fine print taketh away.’ That’s what I’ve found.

Got coverage?

My advice for other old car restorers is to make sure whatever you’re building is insured. Insurance companies don’t always tell you everything. I asked questions and now I have an extra $20,000 covering parts for my Ford. It costs me only $67 a year. You have to ask questions to get the correct coverage. They’re not going to tell you. And your homeowner insurance isn’t going to pay what’s not insured!

The insurance company gave me salvage value and wanted to take the vehicle. I said ‘You ain’t taking this vehicle! Where are you going to find a ’40 Ford convertible?’ For the last three years I’ve been redoing my project car. I’m pulling the whole thing apart. I’m starting over, redoing it all after 17 years.

He’s rebuilding everything from scratch

The Ford was burned pretty badly. I took a big 16” 60-grit grinding disk and ground all the paint off and re-primed it. The tires were even burned. I decided to put blackwalls on it with baby moons. I’m in the process of tearing the frame all apart, especially everything that’s burned. I have everything you can think of in this frame and I’m doing it all over again. All the chrome is tarnished and has to be stripped and re-chromed. I’m currently working on getting everything re-chromed. It’s all a lot of work but I’m very dedicated and I want to get it done.

Eastwood’s Buff Motor has dual buffing pads and dual speeds. It works great. I made my own stand and now I’m buffing all the parts that got burned. I was trying to do it with a little hand drill and that didn’t work. Their buffing compounds work great, too.

I can buy auto restoration supplies at a lot of places, but Eastwood has products you don’t find elsewhere. I’m on Eastwood’s email list and they email me specials – they always have something on sale and they’re always quality products. It’s a great company with quality tools, and they’re great to do business with too!"

— Bob Magee, New Jersey

Do YOU have an Eastwood auto restoration story to tell? Please email us — our blog visitors want to know!